England vs Sri Lanka: match preview on 24 September 2026

England to win the final ODI against Sri Lanka in Durham.

England have won every ODI in this series so far, closing out four matches in a row against Sri Lanka. England have won the series 4-0. England's batting has been the difference, scoring 1374 runs in five matches while Sri Lanka have managed just 736 across their five games. The visitors have not won any ODI in this series, and their only recent victory came against England Lions, not the full side.

Adil Rashid's absence is a blow for England's spin attack, but Rehan Ahmed has been called up as replacement. Will Jacks is back in the squad after appendicitis surgery. Jacks has taken 5/22 since returning from appendicitis surgery. England's bowling depth remains strong even without Rashid, and they have not missed a beat in this series. The hosts have not lost a game in five attempts, including a nail-biter against Pakistan earlier this month (583-582).

Sri Lanka's away record in this tour has been poor. They lost four consecutive matches to England, with the margins varying from two runs to 89 runs. Their batting has struggled to build partnerships against England's pace and spin combination. The visitors scored 176 in the final match but were well short of 265, and their top order has been consistently dismissed for low totals. Durham’s surface will assist both pace and spin.

The match takes place in Durham, where England have a strong home record in ODIs. The pitch typically offers something for both pace and spin, which suits England's balanced attack. Sri Lanka have not won here in this series format, and the travel fatigue from playing four matches in ten days may tell. England are chasing a clean sweep, while Sri Lanka have nothing to play for after losing the T20 series 2-0 earlier.

England will post a competitive total, with their batting lineup firing on all cylinders. Sri Lanka's middle order has shown vulnerability against quality spin, and without Rashid, England's attack will still have options. The visitors need a big score to win, but their recent form suggests they will struggle to chase down 250 or more. England should win by 50-70 runs, with their bowlers exploiting the conditions and Sri Lanka's batting weaknesses.

Sri Lanka can only win if their top order fires early and builds a substantial partnership. If they lose wickets cheaply in the first 15 overs, England's bowlers will capitalize and the match could be over by the 35th over. A wet pitch favoring swing could also help Sri Lanka if England's batsmen struggle to read the movement.